The Daily: Saturday February 7, 2026

All of this is from God, who ransomed us through Christ—and made us ministers of that reconciliation. This means that through Christ, the world was fully reconciled again to God, who didn’t hold our transgressions against us, but instead entrusted us with this message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Not all strength leads to peace.

History teaches us that there is a kind of strength that wins—and still fails us.
At the end of the First World War, the conflict ended with defeat, punishment, and humiliation. The war stopped, but the wounds did not heal. The strength that ended the violence was rooted in domination and retribution. And within a generation, the world found itself back in even greater devastation.

After the Second World War, something different—though still imperfect—emerged. Former enemies were not only defeated, but rebuilt. Relationships were repaired. Cooperation replaced humiliation. The peace that followed was fragile, but it lasted longer.

Same world.
Same humanity.
Two very different kinds of strength.

One kind of strength says: I will overpower you.
Another says: I will help make a future possible.

As we reflect on strength for the long way, it’s worth asking:
What kind of strength are we practicing in our own lives?
When we face conflict, exhaustion, or fear, are we reaching for control—or for presence? Are we trying to end the discomfort quickly, or to tend the deeper work of healing?
The strength God offers us is not the strength that humiliates or overwhelms. It is the strength that restores, reconciles, and holds space for what comes next.

Reflection
Where in my life am I tempted to seek quick resolution or control, rather than the slower strength of reconciliation and repair?

Prayer
God of history and hope,
teach me the strength that heals,
not the strength that hardens.
Give me patience for the long work of peace—
in my own heart, and in our shared world.
Amen.